fisher



- 5 Sheets-.Sheet 1. A. J. FISHER. CORN PLANTER.

(No Model.)

No. 498,954. Patented June 6, 1893.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. JQFISHER. CORN PLANTER.

No. 498,954. Patented June 6, 189 3.

- .5. \\\\\\f T j (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' A. J. FISHER.

001m PLANTER. No. 498,954. Patented June 6, 1893.

A. J. FISHER. 001m PLANTER,

No. 498,954. Patented June 6, 1893.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5..

A. J. FISHER. CORN PLANTER.

Patented June 6; 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. FISHER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FARMERS FRIEND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,954, dated June 6, 1893.

Application filed March 18, 1892- Serial No. 425,413. (No model.)

To call whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. Frsnnaa citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Corn-Planters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of corn planters having a forward runner andseed frame hinged to a rear main frame, and it has for its object the improved construction of such planters whereby their simplicity and efficiency are increased.

The novelty of my invention will be hereinafter set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawingsz-Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a plan view of a planter embodying my invention. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a sectional side elevation through the dotted line x a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is an enlarged detail elevation of the check row wire dumping sheave and connected parts. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a reverse view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6, Sheet 2, is a plan view of Fig. 4. Fig.7, Sheet 2, is an end elevation of the sheave carrier. Fig. 8, Sheet 2, is a partial sectional view of the latch of Fig. 5. Fig. 9, Sheet 3, isa detail sectional view through the dotted line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 10, Sheet 3, is a sectional detail of the hand-dropping mechanism. Fig. 11, Sheet 3, is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 12, Sheet 4, is an enlarged perspective of the seed valve and connected parts under one form of construction. Fig. 13, Sheet 4, is a section through the dotted line 22 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14, Sheet 4, is an enlarged detail perspective of the throw-out mechanism. Fig. 15, Sheet 4, is an enlarged detail perspective inverted of the combined brace and box. Fig. 16, Sheet 4, is an enlarged detail perspective of one of the couplings. Fig. 17, Sheet 4, is an end elevation of the same showing the manner of constructing the coupling. Fig. 18, Sheet 4, is an enlarged perspective of the draft plate. Fig. 19, Sheet 4, is an enlarged central section in rear elevation of one form of valve spring mechanism on the axis of the valve shaft. Fig. 20, Sheet 4, is a sectional view through the dotted line 1 1 of Fig. 19 looking to the right. Fig. 21, Sheet 1, is an enlarged detail perspective of the seat bar box. Fig. 22, Sheet 5, is an enlarged rear elevation of the shoe shankand valve mechanism in the spout thereof under my preferred form of construction. Fig. 23, Sheet 5, is a side elevation of Fig. 22. Fig. 24, Sheet 5, is a sectional side elevation through the dotted line 77 of Fig. 22. Fig. 25,Sheet 5,isasectional detail through the valve bearing.

The same letters and numbers of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

A A are the usual metal covering and supporting wheels, one of which is fast and the other loose upon the round metal axle B journaled in boxes bolted to the under side of a horizontal U-shaped steel angle bar 0 projecting both in front and in rear of the axle about equal distances and with the open end of the U forward. This bar, one side of which is uppermost and the other on the outside constitutes the main frame of the machine and supports the raising and lowering mechanism for the runner frame, the drivers seat, and scraper mechanism, as will be presently explained.

Journaled in boxes at, Figs. 1, 3 and 15, bolted to the under side of the bar 0 at its bend so as to form braces for the frame at these points, is the round metal scraper bar D carrying at its ends the usual scrapers E for the wheels A. This bar is oscillated to bring the scrapers in contact with the wheels by a pedal bar I), Fig. 1, fast on the bar D.

J ournaled transversely across the frame 0 just above and slightly in front of the axle is a shaft F, in this instance having trunnions bearing in lugs 0 upon the frame O. The seat bow G, carrying the drivers seat H and supported at its rear by the inverted U shaped bar I whose lower ends are secured to the bar 5 O, has its lower end secured to a box d, Figs. 1, 3 and 21, upon the middle of the shaft F, 1 thereby throwing the weightof the driver entirely upon the frame 0 and upon the axle at two pointsnear the wheels, instead of upon IOO the center of the axle where the weight might cause the axle to bend.

Fast upon the shaft F at one side is a handlock lever J, Figs. 1. and 2, whose latch engages with a toothed segment 6 upon the bar 0. Also fast upon the shaft F at the middle is the double foot lever K K, extending up in front and back in rear of the shaft F with cross foot rests fat each end. The box 61 is so formed as to straddle the foot-lever K K, without interfering with its vibration and the rocking of the shaft F, as will be readily understood. Also fast upon the shaft Fjustinside of the frame 0 are two forwardly extending arms L to form the double connection with the runner frame by means of pivoted rods 9 whose lower ends pass through perforations in the rear ends of the rearwardly extending bars M of the runner frame, and are secured by lugs or a pin h, Fig. 3, on the under side. Coiled springs 2' surround the rods 9 between shoulders thereon and the bars M for the usual well known purpose.

The forward seeding and runner frame is constructed as follows: There is a forward steel angle bar N, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and a second tubular metal bar 0 square in cross section, both parallel to the axle and having secured thereto the two parallel rearwardly extending steel angle bars M.

P are the runners of the usual or any suitable construction whose forward ends are connected to the bar N and upon whose shanks j and the barO are secured the feed boxes or hoppers Q made of metal and containing a rotating seed dropping plate actuated by a beveled gear on its under side to deposit the grains one by one into the spout of the shank. J ournaled in boxes under the hoppers, which boxes are preferably integral with the bottoms of the boxes, is a shaft R parallel with the bar 0 and having beveled pinions on it's ends meshing with the seed plate gears. S, Fig. 1, are brace bars extending from the bar N to the shanks of the runners. The pole T is bolted to the bars 0 and to the angle bar N with an intermediate coupling piece U, Figs. 1 and 18, which is recessed on its upper side to receive the pole and is bolted at its ends to the bar N some distance on each side of the pole so that the pole is connected to the runner frame at four points thereby relieving the bar N of the strain it would have to hear, if the pole were coupled to it at one point only.

Therunner framethus constructed is hinged to the rear wheel frame in the following manner, referring to Figs. 1, 16 and 17: I provide a hinge joint composed of two members V W the former of which is made of malleable iron with its lower end forked and divergent, as seen in Fig. 17. The lower ends of the forks have coincident round openings through them, into which can readily be slipped the tubular trunnions Z upon each side of a central collar or boss m on the piece NV. The

forks 7c are then bent together until they bear slightly against the boss m thereby inclosing the trunnions and formingaself-locked hinge, Fig. 16, as the forks turn freely upon the trunnions. Thetwohingesthusformedareslipped upon the shaft R which passes freely through the tubular trunnions and the upper end of each member V is bolted to the forward end of the bar 0 at each side, and the forward ends of the membersW are bolted to the bar 0. Thus, while the two frames are hinged together upon the same axis with the shaft R, and while the trunnions I afford a passage for said shaft, yet no strain whatever is put upon said shaft by the lifting of the runner frame when either the lever J is drawn back or pressure is put upon the foot lever K or both, nor is the strain put upon said shaft when the runners are pressed down by the foot lever K aided or not by the hand-lever J, for the member W transmits it entirely to the bar 0, as will be readily understood.

To drive the feed-shaft R, I provide cone sprocket wheels A, Fig. 1, three or four in number,-fast upon the shaft R and connected by a drive chain u to a sprocket wheel B Figs. 1 and 14:, loose upon the revolving axle B but provided with a clutch faced hub 01 normally held in engagement with a coincident clutch faced, sleeve 0 fast upon the axle, by a spring p coiled upon the axle and bearing against the hub of the sprocket and a collar (1 fast on the axle. Fast upon the shaft F is a downwardly and rearwardly projecting cam arm or wiper 7' which when the shaft Fis rocked to lift the runner frame presses against a flange on the sprocket B and forces it out of engagement with the sleeve 0 thereby at once stopping the feed. Upon again lowering the runner frame the cam r is raised and the spring forces the clutch faces into engagement again and the sprocket B again revolves with the axle, as will be readily understood. By this manner of hinging the two frames upon the axis of the seeding shaft, the drive chain connecting the sprockets is always under the same tension and is not slackened or tightened by the raising or lowering of the runner frame.

By reference to Figs. 22, 23, 24 and 25, my preferred form of valve mechanism for the spouts in the shanks will be understood from the following description. In each spout there is a valve D", constituting the back wall of the spout and normally closing the same near the ground under the action of a spring. The upper end of each valve is rounded and formed with trunnions 8 which are journaled in the upper end of the shank in a bearing formed partly in the shank and partly in a box 9 covering the head of the valve and secured by bolts 10 to the shank. Each box is provided with a housing 11 in which is confined, under tension, acoiled spring 12, Fig. 24, whose inner end bears against the outer side of the valve below its pivotal point andserves to hold the valve closed, as will be readily understood. The heads of the valves have openings through them, preferably square in cross section, to.

permit the passage and afford supports for a shaft 0 likewise preferably squarein cross section and locked in any suitable manner to prevent endwise motion, as by pins 13, Fig.

25. The relative sizes of the shaft and the dle of the opening and to increase the size ofthe openings from this point each way, as seen in Fig. 25. To open the valves to deposit the desired number of grains in a hill or row, the shaft C is rocked either by the check rower attachment, to be presently described, or by hand through the instrumentality of a'handlever D, Figs. 1, 9 and 10, pivoted to the hopper at 'u and having its lower end rounded as shown, to engage a reversely rounded surface a, Fig. 10, upon the arm t in such manner that the vibration of the lever D in each direction causes the depression of the arm 15, the rocking of the shaft 0', and the opening of the valves. To hold the valves constantly open, as when drilling the corn, the lever D is brought to a vertical position to press down the arm 25, and a pin or spring key I) is slipped through a perforation in the lever at its lower end and rests in slots in two lugs c on each side of the rounded surface a. to hold the parts locked. A removable seat, shown by the dotted lines Figs. 1, is carried by the forward ends of the bars 0 for the dropper who actuates the lever D.

I will now describe the modified form of valve mechanism. .Iournaled through openings in the upper ends of the spouts in the shanks j are sleeves 2, Figs. 12, 19 and 20, upon which are feathered the upper ends of the valves D" one in each spout. Independent springs s are coiled around each sleeve 2 in a recessed head piece 3 secured upon or integral with the sleeves and having one end of its springs s confined in a slot t in the head piece and the other hooked end engaging a pin 5 upon the outside of the shank as seen in Fig. 12. The springs s are constantly under tension to close the valves D". The sleeves 2 have openings through them to permit the passage and afford abearing for the shaft 0' which is locked to the sleeve 2 by a cotter 6. In this way the shaft 0' is locked to the sleeves and valves though sufficient play is left between the parts to prevent the binding of the valves under the strains that naturally come upon the runner frame.

The remaining feature of my invention relates to the check-row attachment which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, {1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13, where E is a metal bar or frame bolted to each hopper on its outer side and provided with the usual guide rollers d e f and the vertical dumping sheave Q which is journaled upon a plate It having pendent side lugs 'i pivoted as at j between lugs it projecting from the frame E. The sheave g and plate h are held up by a toe '6", Figs. 5 and 7, upon one of the lugs i which is engaged by a spring latch m pivoted upon the inside of the frame E as at 'n. The inner side of the latch at its pivoting point is rccessed to receive a spring 0 which coiled around the pivot has one end bearing in a slot p in the recess and the other passed through a slot q, Fig. 8, in the latch head and bearing against a pin or projection r" on the frame E, to hold the latch over the toe z'and lock the sheave g in its vertical position. or wire 8 extends from the latches m back A cord.

within reach of the driver who pulling upon it causes both latches to be drawn back to release the sheaves g which fall by gravity to dump the check row wire or cable without raising or pressing the same upward. F is the usual forked tappet pivoted, (so as to swing outward and dump the cable when the sheaves g drop for the same purpose,) to an arm 25 pivoted to the frame F. as at a. The lower end of the arm 6 is connected by a pivoted link a" to an arm 1)" fast upon the rockshaft 0' but adjustably secured thereto by a sleeve 0, Fig. 12, having a finger d" overlying a collar e fast upon the shaft and having a bearing upon which the sleeve 0 is slipped and is loose. The finger d bears against a lug f upon the collarre to cause the shaft 0' to be rocked toopen the valves D whenever the tappet is drawn back by the check row wire; A spring g" serves to retract the parts after the tappet' is released, as will be readily understood. A set screw h" engaging a slot in the finger d" prevents the removal of the sleeve 0" except at such times as it may be desired to take ofi the check row attachments.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In a corn planter, the hinge joint for the wheel and runner frames composed of two integral pieces the one of which is split and embraces the other on both sides to form a self locked hinge, in the manner described.

2. In a corn planter, the hinge joint for the wheel and runner frames composed of intogral pieces the one of which is split and embraces the other on both sides to form a self locked hinge, and with an opening through both members-concentric with the hinging axis, substantially as described.

3. In a corn planter, the combination of the runner frame hinged to the wheel frame, a transverse shaft on the wheel frame with le ver mechanismand connections to raise and depress the runner frame, and the seat how ITO supported on said shaft, substantially as described.

4. In a corn planter, the combination of the runner frame hinged to the wheel frame, a transverse shaft on the Wheel frame with lever mechanism and connections, with interposed springs, to raise and depress the runner frame, and the seat bow supported on said shaft, substantially as described.

5. In a corn planter, the combination of the runner frame hinged to the wheel frame on the axis of the seeding shaft, seeding mechanism carried by said runner frame and actuated by the seeding shaft, a cone sprocket upon said shaft, a sprocket revolved by the traction of the machine, and a drive chain connecting said sprockets, substantially as described.

6. In a corn planter, the combination with a wheel frame, arevolving axle by which said wheel frame is carried, and a clutch sprocket on said axle, of a runner frame hinged to said Wheel frame, a feed shaft carried by said runner frame and driven from said sprocket, a transverse shaft on said wheel frame, with lever mechanism and connections to raise and depress said runner frame, and a cam device to disconnect the said clutch sprocket from said axle when the runner frame is raised. 7. In a corn planter, the combination with the runner frame and its seed spouts, of valves hinged in said spouts, springs for said valves and a rock-shaft extending through openings in the valves for opening the same, substantially as described.

8. In a corn planter, the combination with the runner frame of a rock shaft engaging valves in the seed spouts, springs for said valves, an arm upon said shaft, and a handlever arranged to vibrate over and in contact with said arm to cause the opening of the valve in its vibration in each direction, substantially as described.

9. In a corn planter, the combination with the runner frame, of a rock-shaft engaging valves in the seed spout-s springs for said valves, an arm upon said shaft, and a handlever arranged to vibrate over and in contact with said arm and to be locked thereto to hold the valves open, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the shanks of the runners having spouts,of the valves D hinged within said spouts, springs for said valves, and a rock-shaft passing through and engaging said valves, substantially as described.

11. In a corn planter, the combination with the shanks having spouts, of the valves D hinged in said spouts and secured by the boxes 9, the housings 11, the springs 12, in said housings to normally hold said valves closed, and the rock-shaft O engaging said valves to open the same, substantially as described.

12. The combination with the rock-shaft O of the valves D having passages for the shaft through the valves, said passages being enlarged from the center each way to prevent binding, substantially as described.

13. In a corn planter, the combination with the check row frame and dumping sheave of the latch m for said sheave havinga recessed head containing the spring 0 bearing in a slot p at one end and against a projection at the other, substantially as described.

ANDRE W J. FISHER.

Witnesses:

VALENTINE SCHAEFFER, GEORGE O. WARRINGTON. 

